HCMC – The central city of Danang took the lead in the country in terms of tourism competitiveness last year.
The National Administration of Tourism, the Private Economic Development Research Board and the Tourism Advisory Board of Vietnam on January 18 announced the Vietnam Tourism Competitiveness Index..
The index was based on criteria such as business environment, safety and security, healthcare and hygiene, tourism workforce, investment for tourism, information technology, prices, sustainability, infrastructure, natural resources and culture.
These indicators were set in accordance with the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index.
Quang Ninh ranked second in the index, followed by Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Thua Thien-Hue, Hanoi and Quang Binh.
HCMC, Kien Giang, Ninh Binh, Binh Dinh, Lam Dong, Lao Cai, Binh Thuan and Can Tho placed eighth to 15th, respectively.
Kai Partale, tourism marketing and regional development expert, said Danang performed well in most criteria, including safety and security, investment for tourism, information technology, sustainability, transportation and tourism infrastructure.
According to the expert, HCMC was highly competitive in information technology, sustainability, prices, tourism infrastructure and cultural resources.
However, the city performed poorly in safety and security, tourism workforce, transportation and tourism infrastructure and natural resources.
Partale said the Vietnam Tourism Competitiveness Index would help policymakers compare the tourism competitiveness between cities and provinces and develop more appropriate policies for tourism development in the future.
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said through the index, cities and provinces would be able to identify their advantages and weaknesses and improve their tourism competitiveness.
The Vietnam Tourism Competitiveness Index was implemented with financial and technical support from the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam.
